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Netball Australia CEO Kate Palmer joined with her fellow CEOs from the AFL, NRL, and ARU to commit to preventing violence against women across the sporting community.

The four national sporting codes have signed a leadership statement, committing to high impact and systemic actions to prevent violence against women. This has included increasing women’s participation in sport and ensuring policies and practices both internally and externally are based on equality.

Our Watch Chief Executive Officer Mary Barry said sport is one of the many contexts prevention of violence against women initiatives have proven effective.

“The sporting community has a huge opportunity to play an important role in preventing violence against women and their children,” said Ms Barry.

“Sporting codes, clubs and organisations bring together large numbers of people and are a ready-made environment to promote women’s participation and opportunities to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence-supportive attitudes.

“I commend the AFL, NRL, ARU and Netball Australia for using their collective influence to assist in preventing the high rates of violence against women in Australia.”

As the largest female, team participation sport in Australia, Netball Australia is in a unique position empower women as a key strategy to prevent violence against women.

Palmer said at the launch, “Sport has a really important role to play in ending violence against women. We are all in a position to challenge gender stereotypes and end discrimination.”She followed, “We need to reach coaches, administrators and young people, providing them with the information and education to feel safe. Our online education course ‘Expect Respect’ aims to provide this information to everyone in the netball community to educate and empower women and girls.”

Late last year, over 185,000 members of the netball community were reached through a social media campaign on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. This drew on the link between gender equality as a key strategy for PVAW.

Netball Australia is further contributing to PVAW through the promotion and review of our online education course, ‘Expect Respect’.

‘Expect Respect’ aims to provide women and girls with the skills to build respectful and equitable relationships, encourage supportive environments and increase self-esteem.

2,400 members have already undertaken the training on promoting fair, inclusive and respectful behaviours and attitudes both on and off the court.